Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Effingham, IL

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Effingham, IL

The thrill of riding a motorcycle can be neutralized by the injuries careless drivers cause when they do not follow the rules of the road. If another driver injured you in Effingham, IL, reach out to the motorcycle accident lawyers of Burger Law now at (779) 800-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary consultation.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Effingham, or anywhere in Illinois, find out how much your claim may be worth by using our free personal injury calculator.

Motorcycles are an ideal way to get your blood racing. You are connected to the road and your motorcycle in a way that a car just cannot emulate. Regrettably, there is a potentially dangerous trade-off. Because of their relative lack of protection, the consequences of a motorcycle accident can be devastating. When that happens to you, it carries financial, physical and emotional consequences and you need someone to fight for you. You want an attorney that has demonstrated that they can get great results in motorcycle collision claims in Effingham, IL.

Our team has over 70 years of combined experience winning cases in negotiations and in the court room. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will aggressively pursue your claim to ensure you get the medical care and financial recovery that you are owed and that you deserve. Always speak to a lawyer before agreeing to a settlement. The insurance adjuster wants to minimize your compensation. We know how to fight insurance companies and ensure that they treat our Effingham, IL clients fairly.

To learn more about how our personal injury law firm will defend your rights, speak to our team at (779) 800-HURT to discuss your motorcycle accident case now.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Effingham, IL?

Fourteen percent of motor vehicle deaths and four percent of injuries were sustained by motorcyclists, despite only barely over half a percent of vehicle traffic being motorcycles, according to data from the National Safety Council. Nationwide, in 2020 there were 82,500 motorcycle accident injuries and 5,579 deaths. In Illinois, of 3,077 motorcycle crashes, 2,404 caused injuries and 152 were deadly, according to the Illinois 2020 Crash Facts and Statistics. Unfortunately, over half of those occurred when the motorcycle was driving straight, which means the accidents were often due to another driver not respecting motorcyclists on the road. Wrecks happen most frequently in urban areas, especially on arterial roads.

According to data from the Motorcycle Legal Foundation, Illinois is eighth in the country with 280,322 registered motorcycles, and fittingly was eighth in the country in fatalities in 2017.

Almost 50 percent of fatal motorcycle wrecks occur in the between June and September, and half happen between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Effingham, IL

There are several steps you should take, both at the accident site and throughout the process of recovering from your injuries and seeking compensation, to make sure your recover from your injuries both physically and financially.

Immediately After The Accident

While any collision can be jarring, it is vital to think rationally. At the accident site, you should:

• Get to safety — If possible, move out of the way of oncoming traffic. Leave the bike. It is obviously important to you, but staying with the bike or trying to move it could exacerbate your injuries. If you suspect you have a back or head injury, it may be best not to move; instead wait for emergency personnel.
• Keep your gear on — Taking off your helmet, gloves, boots, jacket and other gear could also exacerbate your injuries. Because of adrenaline, a serious injury may not always hurt as much at first.
• Call 911 — Because motorcycle accidents can cause severe injuries, it is probably best to be looked over there instead of leaving and planning to go to an emergency room yourself. Police know how to assign fault in an accident, and will make a police report.
• Gather evidence — Talk to any other drivers involved and get their insurance information. Take photographs of all vehicles and the crash site from a variety of angles. Take more photos than you think you need. Something that may seem unimportant at first may help a motorcycle accident lawyer in Effingham, IL prove who is responsible for your injuries down the road. See if there are eyewitnesses who can back up your claim.

Lastly, if you did not opt to get medical treatment at the scene, do so as quickly as possible.

What to Do Throughout the Claim Process

After you first seek medical care, notify the insurance company of everybody involved. Then, speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Effingham, IL about your case. If your injuries are significant, you will likely need one to get full compensation. While communicating with your attorney, it is important to:

• Continue Medical Treatment — This is not only vital for your health, but is also key to making sure you get full compensation. You need to prove that you sustained financial losses, and to do that you need to be able to point to medical records which show all of the costs and treatments you incurred because of your injuries. The the higher your financial loss, the higher your non-economic damages compensation will be as well. Make sure you attend every every treatment and use all of the equipment and medication your doctor prescribes.
• Keep Track of Everything Related to Your Injuries — You are also entitled to compensation for lost wages from time when you were unable to work due to your injuries, and any out-of-pocket expenses you incur, such as parking or gas money for going to medical appointments or hiring someone to help with housework. Keep all of your receipts and notes about why you needed to pay those expenses. It may also be a good idea to keep a daily journal detailing the non-tangible impact of your injuries and your pain and suffering.
• Do Not Talk to the Insurance Company — Once you have informed the insurance company about your claim and enlisted the services of a motorcycle accident lawyer, your attorney will handle all communication with the insurance. Insurance adjusters try to employ a lot of ploys to avoid paying claims, and it is better to leave communication up to a lawyer who knows how to hold the adjuster accountable.
• Resist Social Media — In this day and age, many of us want to share details about our life with others. However, posting too much on social media can ruin your chances of being fully compensated. If you tell the insurance company that your injuries prevent you from working, and the insurance sees pictures of you at your friend’s barbecue, they will use it to try and devalue your claim.

From the moment you hire us, we will keep you updated throughout your claim until we attain a successful resolution. Let us deal with the legal aspect of your case so you can spend your energy on on your physical and emotional recovery.

Do I Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Effingham, IL For My Claim?

For minor and clear-cut accidents, where the liable party is obvious and your medical expenses are no more than a visit with your primary care physician, you may be able to get compensation on your own. Give the insurance company proof of your financial losses, and see if they will throw some extra money on top for the hassle. In a a settlement for a relatively small sum of money where not much is disputed, the adjuster will only lose money if they try to deny your claim.

However, more likely than not you will need a motorcycle accident attorney for your injury claim. While in a a truly fair society insurance companies would fulfill their obligations when someone is injured by their policyholders’ negligence, they usually have to be convinced to. Situations where you will need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Effingham, IL include:

• Your injuries are significant — The more your medical expenses and time spent off work, the more the insurance company will fight back against your claim. If your injuries require ongoing treatment, you will always need an attorney to hold the insurance adjuster accountable for all of your damages.
• The insurance company is not being fair — If your damages are starting to creep up into the tens of thousands, and the insurance adjuster is only offering a few thousand, they are trying convince you that you do not know how much you are owed. If there is an attorney working on your claim, the insurance company will know that you mean business. Burger Law has added hundreds of thousands of dollars to claims, including turning a $3,900 offer into a $100,000 settlement.
• There are multiple parties at fault — With some injuries, especially wrecks involving more than one vehicle, there may be more than one party that is responsible for your injuries. For example, a driver may cut your off while not looking for you, causing you to swerve and hit a road hazard that a local government should have fixed. An aggressive Effingham, IL motorcycle accident lawyer will be able to investigate the crash and assign a portion of the damages to each liable party. Finding other people who are liable is crucial if you are owed more compensation than the at-fault driver’s policy limits.
• You are being blamed for your injuries — Trying to say your injuries are your own fault is a well-known move insurance adjusters use to avoid paying you. When this happens, an attorney can step in and conclusively demonstrate how the other party was negligent. If it is true that you were responsible for a portion of the accident, you are not completely barred from compensation under Missouri’s comparative negligence doctrine. However, a lawyer is likely necessary to get you the best possible results.

Your Effingham, IL motorcycle accident lawyer at Burger Law knows how to fight back against tactics insurance adjusters use. We have been doing it for more than 30 years. We offer an initial conversation and investigation for free, so call us at (779) 800-HURT to see if we can add value to your claim. We get to work from the second you hire us, and fight until there is nothing left to fight.

Recent Burger Law Effingham, IL Motorcycle Accident Victories

With any type of legal claim, results matter. You want to know that you are giving your case to the best possible lawyer, and that they are going to fight hard to make sure you get 100 percent of the recovery and compensation you deserve. Any motorcycle accident lawyer can say they will fight for you, but a lawyer whose past clients will vouch for them and who has the results to prove it is another thing. Check out the following links to see some recent Burger Law motorcycle accident victories and testimonials:

• $495,000 Uninsured Motorcycle Accident Verdict
• $327,000 Motorcycle Accident Settlement
• $250,000 Policy Limits Settlement
• $100,000 Motorcycle Liability Claim
• Maximum Recovery Obtained for Motorcycle Accident

Do I Have a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Effingham, IL?

In order to have a valid claim in Effingham, IL, you must have sustained an injury that was caused by someone else’s negligence. There are five elements to proving negligence in a personal injury claim:

1. Duty of care — Did the liable party owe you an obligation to keep you safe? 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1 stipulates that “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care,” so other drivers always owe you a duty of care.
2. Breach of duty — Did they fail in that duty and cause an accident? Was another motorist speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving or otherwise not following the rules of the road?
3. Cause in fact — Were your injuries the direct result of the accident?
4. Proximate cause — Whose breach of duty caused the accident? If the other driver’s brakes were not working, the liable party may be a manufacturer and not the driver?.
5. Damages — Did your injuries lead to losses, such as medical expenses and emotional distress? If your accident caused a few small cuts and bruising, but you did not need any medical treatment, it would be hard for you to file a claim.

If you were injured because of another’s negligence, you need to file an injury claim. Consult with a motorcycle accident attorney now at (779) 800-HURT if you have any doubts about the validity of your claim.

How Much is My Effingham, IL Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?

Your compensation will be a combination of:

• Economic damages, such as lost wages, medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses
• Non-economic damages, such as emotional distress, disfigurement and pain and suffering
• In some rare cases, you can receive punitive damages if you were injured by extreme recklessness, such as drunk driving

Factors that determine how much you will recover include:

• The severity of your injuries; more significant injuries typically lead to higher economic and noneconomic damages
• Whether or not you contributed to the accident
• If you sustained permanent disfigurement or disability
• The impact the injuries have had on your ability to live the life you are used to

At Burger Law, we are experts at calculating every dime you are owed and insist the liable party pay all of it. If your injuries lead to future economic damages like lost earning capacity or future surgeries, we will ensure you also get money to pay for that, including calculating for inflation.

How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Effingham, IL?

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident injuries in Effingham, IL is two years. That means the clock starts ticking on the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in court. There are some exceptions:

• If you or your loved one was a minor when the injuries occurred, they have until their 20th birthday
• If you or a loved one was under a legal disability when the injuries occurred, they have until two years after the disability ended
• If the person responsible for your injuries is outside of the state of Illinois for a time, that period is not included in the two years

While two years may seem like a long time, investigating and developing a legal strategy for your claim takes time. Do not hesitate to reach out to a motorcycle accident lawyer after you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Effingham, IL. Call us now at (779) 800-HURT.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Effingham, IL?

Motorcycles are not as easy to spot on the road, being smaller. Due to a phenomenon referred to as “inattentional blindness,” drivers are less likely to see a motorcycle — even if they are doing their best to be careful. This is because we train our brains to look for other cars, but not for motorcycles. Inattentional blindness contributes to many motorcycle accidents in Effingham, IL.

Most motorcycle accidents occur because of:

• Left-hand turns — The Motorcycle Legal Foundation reports that over 40 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve a car turning left while and hits a motorcyclist in an intersection. These crashes can be the result of a motorist’s drunkenness, reckless driving or simple inattention.
• Other collisions — Head on collisions are also common between motorcycles and cars or trucks. A car may also not see a motorcyclist when turning in front of them. Motorcycles also collide with fixed objects more than any other type of driver, which is not always the motorcyclist’s fault.
• Road hazards — Cracked pavement, potholes, dead animals, wet or icy roadways or other debris on our streets usually do not affect a car or truck very much. However, motorcycles are less stable and these hazards can cause a motorcyclist to lose control.
• Defective components — Manufacturers and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall dozens of motorcycles annually. When dangerous bikes and components are not recalled, it can cause motorcycle collisions.

Who is Liable for My Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Effingham, IL?

Ninety-four percent of all auto accidents are due to driver error. So, most likely, you will make a claim against another driver. However, other parties that may be held accountable include:

• A governmental agency or construction company for not repairing or negligent repairing a road
• A motorcycle manufacturer in a product liability claim
• A employer if someone they hired injured you while driving, for example in a commercial truck accident

Can I Sue For My Effingham, IL Motorcycle Accident if it Did Not Involve Another Vehicle?

Governmental bodies are tasked with keeping their roadways safe for use by everyone on the roads, and when obstruction or other objects in the road cause an accident, the municipality can be held accountable for the motorcycle accident. However, the state of Illinois does not make it easy to sue them. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Effingham, IL can handle your claim and take the fight to city hall to get you the compensation you deserve.

A Loved One Was Killed in a Motorcycle Crash in Effingham, IL. What Are My Legal Options?

Motorcyclists are not only at higher risk of a serious injury, but are more likely to be in a fatal accident. If you were touched by tragedy and a family member died in a motorcycle crash, you can make a recovery through a wrongful death claim. While it is impossible to put a monetary value on your loved one’s life can bring a sense of justice and ease the financial burden that come with your loved one’s passing. 740 ILCS 180/, the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, details the laws surrounding wrongful death claims:

• A wrongful death claim can be made when some dies because of another’s negligence or wrongdoing.
• The Illinois statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is two years from the date of your loved one’s death, not the date that they were first injured.
• Three groups of people related to the deceased can file a wrongful death claim in Illinois. Beginning with who has the first chance to file, they are:
  1. Members of the nuclear family, such as a spouse, children, grandchildren and grandparents
  2. When there are no immediate family members, siblings and siblings’ descendants can bring a suit
  3. If there are no family members, the court can designate a plaintiff ad litem to file a claim
• Your compensation will include:
  • Under 755 ILCS 5/27-6, the Illinois Survival Act, the economic and noneconomic damages your loved one incurred from their injuries before their death
  • Funeral expenses
  • Loss of financial support from your loved one, including any work-related benefits
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of instruction, education and moral training the deceased would have provided
  • Survivors’ grief, sorrow and mental suffering

Burger Law’s Effingham, IL wrongful death attorneys are not just experts at securing full compensation. We are compassionate and have helped many families get through the sorrow, anger and confusion that comes after a fatal auto accident.

In addition to motorcycle accidents, other personal injury cases we we have had great success with in Effingham, IL include:

• Survival Action Lawyer in Illinois
• Truck Crash Lawyers in Illinois
• Wrongful Death Lawyers in Illinois
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Illinois
• Car Accident Attorney in Illinois

Speak to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Effingham, IL Today

Our Effingham, IL motorcycle accident lawyers will fight until you get the maximum compensation you are owed; we promise. You deserve to be financially compensated for your motorcycle accident. You do not have to pay for someone else’s mistakes. To learn more about how our Effingham, IL personal injury law firm will fight for your rights, call our team at (779) 800-HURT or fill out our online form for a complimentary case evaluation.